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Kicked, punched and urinated on, life as a street drinker is “horrible” according to Joe Gibbon, who started drinking 23 years ago.

But it is a route that anyone can end up taking according to the 39-year-old dad, who went to college and used to work as a tradesman.

Desperate to prove to his family that he can reject a life of drinking, he is one of around 29 street drinkers said to be using a new city centre support hub on a daily basis since it launched on Monday.

Speaking to the ECHO the dad-of-two revealed he had lost everything through drink but is now eager to combat his issues with the help of doctors and other support services at a new REST facility on Bolton Street.

Describing life on the streets he said: “It’s horrible, you are getting spat at, getting kicked while you are asleep, you are getting urinated on, it’s a hard life out there... say you lost your job or you lost your family and you are like the way I am now. The way you are, in two months’ time you would be the same as me, it’s a hard life, you are getting beat up and whatever.”

While he accepts it was his own actions that turned him to drink he denies that rough sleeping or street drinking is a life choice, but that once you are on the streets it is difficult to get off them.

Since he was directed to the centre earlier this week though he says the services on offer, including housing and medical advice, have already landed him a roof over his head and the medication he needs daily.

He said: “I chose to drink before anything else, it was my own fault and that’s how I ended up. These nice people have done a good job for me... I’m made up, it’s a good feeling, you can just walk around and you don’t have to look over your back or anything like that.”

The wet centre for homeless and street drinkers

Julie Prendergast, services manager at the Whitechapel Centre, which operates the site with organisations including the police and council, believes there are between 25 and 30 regular street drinkers in the city centre, but believes that number may rise over the summer.

Explaining the REST centre’s aims, she said: “We can help people and reduce their alcohol use here only if they want to do that, but we are not forcing people to do that, we are saying we accept you as you are, don’t drink on the street, we know that there are a lot of issues around that, come here and drink if you must but if you want any help we are here.”

The REST centre does have other ambitions beyond helping people with benefits, housing and health support. One of the primary objections is to reduce issues associated with street drinkers that are affecting businesses and homes in the city centre.

Julie added: “We are looking to reduce anti-social behaviour that’s related to street drinking so that the local people in the city aren’t really hurt by that behaviour, but we are also looking to reduce the harm for our clients as well. We know that there is a lot of health related dangers when people drink alcohol to the extent that they do.”

Police patrols have recently been stepped up on Bold Street and other areas of Liverpool city centre over concerns, including street drinking, and Inspector Steve Hardy is hopeful the REST centre will help address the issue.

He said: “By dealing with the alcohol problem that they have then ultimately we are saving all of the services time and money. The reality is a lot of the individuals are vulnerable, in any case you will find some of the individuals have got mental health problems, serious health issues or special educational needs which make them some of the most vulnerable people in society.”